Clutch



(No Model.)

G. D. HOWELL CLUTCH.

No. 461,713. Patented Oct. 20, 1891..

wee.

"AT NT GUILFORD D. ROiVELL, OF APPLETON, VISCONSIN.

CLUTCVH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,713, dated October 20, 1891'.

Application filed May 14, 1891. Serial No. 392,728. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUILFORD D. RowELL, of Appleton, in-the county of Outagamie and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in-Friction Clutches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. I

My invention relates to an improvement in friction-clutches.

This invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination of parts, more fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed outin the claim.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a clutch which embodies my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the disk.

A represents the shaft.

B indicates a circular flange or plate substantially parallel with and at one end of the pulley and around its outer end provided with the annular outwardly-extending rim B. This plate is rigidly secured to the pulley D by means of the hub O, which embraces the shaft, and on which the pulley is keyed or otherwise rigidly mounted. The plate B is rigid with one end of the Hub 0. The hub is provided with a metal bushing C, which can be easily removed and replaced when worn out. The hub O is usually loose on the shaft A; but in some cases, as hereinafterstated, it is rigid thereon. Upon this hubCis keyed or otherwise secured the driving-pulley D,

which is provided with suitable oil-cups or other lubricating devices E. Thisplate B is placed loosely upon a single continuous shaft, which constantly revolves; but it may be placed upon and keyed to a driving-shaft which is to be only operated when the clutch is thrown into operation. In that case-the driving-disk, which will be described hereinafter, will be rigidly secured to one shaft, which will have its end extend loosely into the hub C, while the hub will be keyed to the shaft which is to be driven by the clutch. The outer end of the plate is shaped as shown in Fig. 1, and is made sufficiently deep to receive the disk G, which is keyed to the shaft A, so as to constantly revolve with it. This disk, as shown in Fig. 2,consists of a metallic plate having a series of perforations made through it near its outer edge, and which is provided with a hub of any suitable construction that will allow it to be rigidly fastened to the shaft A. Through the perforations in this disk G are placed blocks ofwood H,in which the grain of the wood extends lengthwise, and which are made sufficiently long to project any desired distance upon each side of the disk. These blocks of wood enable a sufficient frictional hold to be taken by the plate upon the disk to enable the disk to cause the plate and pulley to revolve with the shaft A without the slightest danger of slipping. As the grain of the Wood runs lengthwise with the blocks, the ends of the blocks afford a frictional hold for the plate that cannot be obtained by the use of any other material. Passing horizontally through the outer edge of the plate are a number of rods I, which extend through the clamping-plate J at their outer ends, and upon which the spiral springs L are placed. These springs L-are placed between the inner side of the plate B and the inner side of the clampingplate J, which is supported both by the rods 1 and the outer edge of the plate 13, inside of which it fits, and these springs serve to force the plate J back out of contact with the blocks of Wood H whenever the plate J is left,

free to move. To the outer ends of these rods 1 are secured the short bent arms N, and to the outer-end of these arms N are pivoted the rods 0, which are connected at their inner ends to the hub P, which is moved freely upon the shaft A by means of a shifting l ver of any suitable form. When the hub P is moved in one direction, the rods 0 serve to cause the clamping-plate J and the plate B to grasp the blocks of wood H firmly between them, and thus lock the plate to the disk G, which always revolves with the shaft A, and when the hub P is moved in the opposite direction the plate J and plate B are left free, so that the springs L force the clam pingplate out of contact with the blocks.

By meansof the construction here shown and described the disk always revolves with the shaft, while the plate B and pulleyD are only made to revolve when the plateis thrown into operation. This construction allows the plate to remain idly upon the shaft when not in use, and allows the pulley to be oiled or any changes or necessary adjustments or repairs to be made.

In case a cut-01f friction-clutch is desired two shafts will be used, as above described, and then the shaft upon which the. plate is placed will only be brought into use when the clutch is thrown into gear with the disk.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In a clutch, the combination of a pulley,

the circular plate B, rigid with the pulleyhub and having the outwardly-extending annular edge-rim, the driving-disk rigid with its shaft at the outer side and within the rim of WVitnesses:

JOHN BoT'rENsEK, D. G. ROWELL. 

